Monthly Archives: April 2015

Throw Your Hat Over the Fence

I don’t really believe in good luck charms, but I’ve had a talisman for almost 30 years. It has been my secret weapon for accomplishments. I rarely shared about it in the past, because I never wanted its magic to wear off.

The secret is a story. And this has been the most influential story of my life. Up until today, I never knew it was inspirational to so many others as well.

When I was in the fifth grade, probably about age 10, I read a short story titled “Throw Your Hat Over the Fence.” It was about a boy who had to get to some particular place, but he was running late. He realized if he could climb a fence and cut through a field, he would have a significant shortcut, and he would make it on time. But the fence was tall, and he wasn’t sure he could do it. The boy takes off his hat, his favorite hat, and tosses it over the fence. Now he has to find a way over the fence. He committed himself to the task, and there was no backing out now.

Even at age 10, this story reverberated in my mind. I am so thankful I read it early in life. It never occurred to me that this story was taken from another source, but I didn’t really read footnotes or references back then. I was discussing this story with my wife the other day and decided to see if I could find it. I found a lot more than I was expecting.

The original story was penned by the Irish writer, Frank O’Conner, in his memoir, An Only Child. The author shares:

…how, as a boy, he and his friends would make their way across the countryside, and when they came to an orchard wall that seemed too high and too doubtful to try and too difficult to permit their voyage to continue, they took off their hats and tossed them over the wall—and then they had no choice but to follow them.

Apparently, this story made an impact on many others as well, including U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The following is a quote from when he was dedicating the Aerospace Medical Health Center in San Antonio on 21 November 1963. He was speaking about the United States’ commitment to space exploration despite the dangers and many unknown factors. He concluded his speech by saying:

This nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space, and we have no choice but to follow it. Whatever the difficulties, they will be overcome . . . we will climb this wall . . . and we shall then explore the wonders on the other side.

It is a simple story with a profound meaning. I have held this story close to my heart, and I have used its wisdom many times.

Now there are times to take a step back and evaluate. There are times to wait until everything lines up before we proceed. However, all too often, this leads to never accomplishing anything. We are afflicted with analysis paralysis, and we never get anything done.

Then there are times that the commitment creates the solution.

I did this when I moved from Florida to Kentucky chasing after a girl. I had no job and only had one month’s rent. That girl is now my wife.

I did this when I turned down a paid job to instead start my own graphic design business. I was only 22 years old. I had never worked for myself before that day. That business was my sole income for five years.

I did this when I decided to go back to school to become a physician. I graduated from the Mayo Clinic and have practiced medicine on four continents.

I did this when we decided to live a more intentional, agrarian life. I grew up in the suburbs of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We now own a farm and have cattle grazing the pastures.

I also think it is important to point out that I’ve not had success after success. I have had many events that others may call failures. I just choose not to look at them as such. They have each been learning experiences that have given me more knowledge and confidence to try bigger or more bold endeavors.

So if you have something that you know you should do, something you feel you should attempt, and you feel it down to your marrow, down to your soul, but you have not done it yet because you are waiting, waiting for things to fall in place, waiting for the stars to align before you move forward, then I challenge you to commit to it. I challenge you to take a step that makes it impossible for you not to try. I challenge you to throw your hat over the fence.

Description:I’ve been planning on planting a large number of Muscadines for a long time, and recently Jack Spirko published a podcast discussing Muscadines, and so I thought I would elaborate on the topic. This North American native is at home in the humid southeastern parts of the continent, and these grapes thrive in conditions where the more temperamental European grapes struggle. They are vigorous, produce high yields (over 100 lbs/45 kg per vine!), can be eaten fresh, produce amazing preserves and wines, can be dried like raisins, and have edible leaves. This is a great vining option that will add diversity to your diet and your biome!

History:Muscadines are native to southeastern North America. The natural range stretches from Florida to Delaware (but much more infrequent north of Virginia) and west to Texas. Native Americans used these fruits for fresh eating, juice, and dried as raisins for Winter food. Thomas Jefferson planted Muscadines at Monticello. Muscadine wine (including a fortified port-style wine) became a large industry in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, but Prohibition severely crippled it, and it never recovered. There are a number of Muscadine Wine producers now, but it is seen as more of a novelty than a standard, although there are a number of wineries hoping to change that. There have also been a large number of improved cultivars that have sweeter and thinner skinned fruits which have growing appeal for fresh eating.

Muscadines can be very large compared to what most people think of grapes.

Trivia:

Muscadines don’t form the typical tight bunches of grapes like the classic wine and table grapes. Instead, they form loose clusters of 3-40 grapes.

Muscadines are all seeded with up to 5 hard seeds. The exception is the Fry Seedless, but these fruit are small and require chemical application for the fruit to grow to size.

There are over 300 Muscadine cultivars grown in the U.S.

Some Muscadines are self-fertile, but many are considered “female” or “self-sterile”. These plants produce pistils but no stamens (called “pistillate”), so they need a self-fertile (or “perfect” flowered plant) for fertilization. There are no “male” Muscadines (i.e. a plant that produces flowers with only stamens but no pistils, i.e. “staminate”).

Female plants need to be planted within 50 feet (15 meters) of a self-fertile plant to ensure good fruit production.

Cultivars that are more cold-hardy include Magnolia, Carlos, and Sterling.

In 1524, a green-bronze Muscadine was found growing along the Scuppernong River in North Carolina. Since then, many people mistakenly call all bronze Muscadines “scuppernongs”, but this is not accurate. The Scuppernong is one named variety. So all Scuppernongs are Muscadines, but all bronze Muscadines are not Scuppernongs.

The “Mother Vine” is a Scuppernong vine that has been growing since at least the 1720’s (but possibly from as early as 1584!) on the northern end of Roanoke Island, North Carolina. It is the oldest known Muscadine vine in the world.

Muscadines have high GDH (Growing Degree Hours). This means, in general, Muscadines need long, warm days to reach maximum production. This is not surprising when we consider Muscadines are native to the southeastern United States. It is important to keep this in mind when choosing a variety, as some are more cold tolerant than others.

Muscadine cultivars are also evaluated by percentage of “dry scars” on the fruit harvest. The scar is the wound that is left when the fruit is picked off the vine. If the scar is “wet”, this means that the fruit can dry out and/or will start to rot faster (i.e. has a low storage/shelf life). If the scar is “dry”, this means that the wound seals over fast, and this fruit will store longer. Some examples of cultivars with “dry” scars include: Albermarle, Bountiful, Delite, Excel, Golden Isles, Granny Val, Hunt, Loomis, Magoon, Nesbit, Pride, Roanoke, Scarlet, Southern Home, Summit, and Welder. Some examples of cultivars with “very dry” scars include: Carlos, Florida Fry, Fry Seedless, Late Fry, Polyanna, and Tara.

The sugar content in Muscadines can range from very low (12-13%) to very high (20-23%). Some cultivars with high sugar content include: Albermarle, Bountiful, Darlene, Dixie, Early Fry, Pam, Rosa, Scarlet, Southland, Summit, Sweet Jenny, Tara, and Triumph. Some cultivars with very high sugar content include: Doreen, Florida Fry, Fry Seedless, Janet, Late Fry, Magoon, and Sugargate.

One reason Muscadine wine has not been promoted as much is because of its natural browning. This is when the wine, both white and red, slowly turn to a brownish color. There is no change in flavor, but marketers fear brown wines won’t sell. There may be some truth to that, but that isn’t going to stop me from making wine from my Muscadines!

Most cultivars of Muscadine are perfect for fresh eating!

Although many prefer to make Muscadine wine from the fruits! Click on the photo to see more on this wine.

USING THIS PLANT

Primary Uses:

Fresh eating – While the skins are edible, most people do not like to eat them. This is because most varieties have thick skins; people either suck the fruit from the skin or spit the skin out. There are thin-skinned varieties that have been developed which have skins that are significantly more palatable.

Dried – Muscadine Raisins! In a small study looking at three cultivars, Noble was chosen as the best raisin Muscadine.

Syrup – This is another use of Muscadines and can be used in salad dressings, desserts, and drinks.

Juice – This is a growing market as the juice is very high polyphenols and other antioxidants.

Primary or secondary/adjunct flavoring in wines, cordials, liqueur, and other alcoholic beverages, including beers.

Muscadine leaves can be used just like European grape leaves. Click on the photo for a great recipe from herbalist and psychotherapist, Holli Richey!

Secondary Uses:

Medicinal Plant – While the fruit contains many healthful antioxidants, the seeds are being researched for stronger medicinal benefits.

Tea Plant – The leaves can be dried and used as a tea or used with herbal tea mixes.

Edible Leaves – The young leaves are edible and can be used just like “regular” grape leaves. See photo/recipe above.

Edible Sap – I could only fine a few sources for this bit of information, but reportedly, the sap can be harvested from a cut vine. This is said to be a “coolly refreshing drink”, but may weaken or kill the stem/vine.

Dye Plant – The leaves have been used as a natural yellow dye.

Wildlife Food – many animals will eat the fruit, especially birds!

General insect nectar plant.

Many animals enjoy Muscadines as much as humans! Here is a Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia).

Yield: Variable depending on the cultivar and variety. In one study performed in Mississippi, yields ranged from 15 lbs (7 kg) to 115 lbs (52 kg) with most cultivars yielding 55 lbs (25 kg) to 77 lbs (35 kg) of fruit per vine. That is a lot of fruit!Harvesting: Harvesting can begin in the third growing season; all flower clusters should be removed for the first two years to establish a healthy vine. Muscadines are harvested when the fruit is ripe, in late Summer and Autumn (depending on location), and are typically picked one fruit at a time (not in bunches like bunch grapes). The fruit is ripe when it falls easily off the stem and has a pleasant, sweet fragrance. The fruit will not ripen more after picked, so avoid picking unripe fruit. Another harvesting method takes advantage of Muscadines tendency to drop when ripe. A tarp or sheet can be placed under the vine, and the vine given a hard shake, and ripe fruit will fall onto the tarp making for easier harvest.Storage: Use within a few days fresh. A few cultivars can be stored for about a week, but this depends on the cultivar.

Muscadine jelly is a Southern treat!

Muscadine seeds are being investigated for their health benefits (thought to be almost identical to European grape seeds).

Pollination: Self-fertile or Female plants. Pollinated by wind and insects. There is some debate about honeybees pollinating Muscadines as I have seen conflicting reports in horticultural literature.Flowering: Spring-Summer depending on the location.

Life Span:

Years to Begin Fruiting: 2-3 years

Years to Maximum Fruiting: 4-5 years

Years of Useful Life: 20+ years.

The flower clusters should be removed for the first 2 years to promote healthy vines.

Muscadine flowers are pollinated via wind and insects.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PLANT

Size: Up to 100 feet (30 meters) in lengthRoots: Most grapes have a large portion of shallow, fibrous roots with some deep roots that can grow 20 feet (6 meters) down into the subsoil. Roots can spread laterally up to 33 feet (10 meters) from the vine, and it is likely that the longer Muscadine vines’ roots may be larger.Growth Rate: Fast

It is reported that irrigation is not needed in areas with at least 30 inches of rain (not surprisingly, this is typical for the areas where Muscadines originate). If there is no rain for more than 60 days, then supplemental watering is needed. If your region has dry summers, then irrigation for establishment is recommended for the first 2-4 years.

Female plants need to be planted within 50 feet (15 meters) of a self-fertile plant to ensure good fruit production.

Propagation:

Typically from layering of developed varieties, usually in Summer. Can be propagated via cuttings, but this is reportedly more difficult. Muscadines can be easily propagated via seed as well, but you may or may not get a good-tasting fruit. 1-2 months of cold stratification is recommended to increase germination rates.

Maintenance:

For maximum fruit production, pruning and training are required. Pruning should be done when the plant is dormant (Winter) or the cut vine will heavily bleed.

Training to a trellis system is the most common method of growing Muscadines, but they will grow on fences, shrubs, and trees as well.

Grazing expert Greg Judy will be teaching a 2-day course on how to make a living from the land by grazing cattle, even if you don’t own any land! This course will be designed for the absolute beginner, although experienced graziers with their own land will undoubtedly learn a lot from Greg’s experience. Greg will show how we can revitalize hayed out, scruffy, weedy pastures, and turn them into highly productive grazing landscapes that grows both green grass and greenbacks! (more information…)